I was sad when I wrote this. I had just been thinking about what would happen if I was in a coma. And then I wondered what Gippal would do if Rikku was in a coma. And then I was like, "That's it; let your fear out into a fic!" So, I didn't enjoy writing this, it's sad, but it's a thirteen year old girl's version on sad.
He picked up her hand timidly and held it tightly. It was as cold as ice. He watched her face closely, studying every detail, because for once it looked completely peaceful. There was no look of being overexcited or sad. She just looked like she was sleeping. It was hard to believe that only a week ago she had stood in front of him. He had the chance to speak to her when there was a life inside of her. When there was that spark. He reached out with the hand that wasn't holding hers and brushed away her bangs.
"Rikku? Rikku, I know you can hear me, even though it's hard. I miss you, and I hope you'll come back soon. It's lonely, you know? Not having anyone to pick on and everything." He laughed to himself a bit. "I'm only joking. But I, uh… I never got to tell you some things. And I won't be able to if you don't come back. I mean… I could say it now… it might spare me a nice smack in the face or for you to break out in tears. And don't try to tell me you wouldn't! I know how girls are… ah, shit, I'm talking to a sleeping person now.
"Well… I guess I should tell you now. Maybe it'll give you a reason to come back, right? Well… I still… I still love you Rikku. And I don't know what I'll do if you don't wake up. Because, if I know that you died and I never told you, then it's the Farplane for me. But you know, then we can be together again, right? I know you wouldn't want me to but... Paine told me that she knew someone like this once. She said that… talking to them might help both ends. And for me it's only making me feel like I'm gonna choke." He squeezed her hand tightly as he closed his eyes. This was the first time he had seen her in the coma. He hadn't believed anyone when they had told him what happened. Machina's had blown up on her before, right? She should've made it… but what went wrong? "I just wish you could talk back. It feels like such a long time ago…"
There was a click behind him and he turned around. Yuna stood there, holding onto the doorknob.
"Hi." She said. Her voice wasn't happy. But it wasn't sad either. Gippal just gave her a dull smile and turned back to Rikku, squeezing her hand as tightly as he could.
"Come on… I know you can feel. Slap me… do something…" he muttered, shaking her hand back and forth. She continued her steady breathing, her eyes twitching every once in awhile.
"She won't wake up." Yuna said quietly, sitting beside Rikku's bed on the opposite end of Gippal.
"Why aren't you sad?" he asked, keeping his eyes on Rikku's. If she woke up, he wanted to be the first to know. He didn't want to be the last again.
"Don't say I'm not sad." She said, her eyes flaring suddenly. "I'm just… I already know how to put up that wall to stop the hurt. I had to make it when I became a summoner. To keep the sad remarks out. Keep the hopeful ones in. Rikku was there with me. She always wanted to do something. It kills me right now to know that I want to help her this time… but I can't do anything." She said. Gippal took in a sharp breath. I gotta get it together he told himself, shaking the needles that pricked at his eyes away.
"Well… I guess Rikku felt the same. You know, it was known then that you were going to die, and she knew that there wasn't anything that she could do about it. She knew that whatever she said… it was still the end. You still were only days away from… from Zanarkand." Gippal said. Somehow, he had a feeling he knew how Rikku felt. Yuna nodded from the other end. Gippal watched Rikku carefully. He seemed to believe if he watched her long enough, she would wake up. She would smile at him and put her hand on his cheek, being glad it was him to welcome her back. But it never happened. He watched her for what seemed to stretch into eternity, Yuna glancing up at him occasionally.
"Gippal?" His head shook as he came out of his daze, and he slowly averted his gaze to Yuna. Her eyes seemed to glisten. "Do you love her?" she asked. He only stared at Yuna for a moment, and then looked at Rikku. It finally happened. His vision blurred, and he squeezed his eyes shut, begging the tears to go back to where they had come from. He pulled her hand against his chest and nodded quickly. The motion made the two small tears coming to his eyes slip, and they ran down his face and off his chin, landing on her hand. Her hand reacted slightly, closing as though he had pinched her palm. He looked up, but all her could see was the blankness of her face, no sign of being different. He sighed and looked at her hand, wiping the tears from it, and then wiping them from his own face. He looked up timidly at Yuna. To his dismay, she was smiling at him.
"Yes… I'm sure she'll be just fine." She said, picking up the hand that Gippal wasn't holding onto and kissing it swiftly before standing up and leaving the room. Gippal watched the door blankly, and then turned his gaze to Rikku. He could feel his own lips curling into a smile that looked more like a cringe.
"Yeah… I think she will too." He placed her hand back where it had been, then leaned over, kissing her lightly on the cheek. "Wake up soon, 'kay? I got some new machina to show you." He said, turning towards the door and opening it quietly. He took one last look at her before strolling down through the hallway. And now we wait.